@article{cao_habibi_magalhaes_rojas_lucia_2011, title={Cellulose nanocrystals-based nanocomposites: fruits of a novel biomass research and teaching platform}, volume={100}, number={8}, journal={Current Science}, author={Cao, X. D. and Habibi, Y. and Magalhaes, W. L. E. and Rojas, O. J. and Lucia, L. A.}, year={2011}, pages={1172–1176} }
 @article{yang_lucia_chen_cao_liu_2011, title={Effects of enzyme pretreatment on the beatability of fast-growing poplar apmp pulp}, volume={6}, number={3}, journal={BioResources}, author={Yang, G. H. and Lucia, L. A. and Chen, J. C. and Cao, X. D. and Liu, Y.}, year={2011}, pages={2568–2580} }
 @article{esteves magalhaes_cao_lucia_2009, title={Cellulose Nanocrystals/Cellulose Core-in-Shell Nanocomposite Assemblies}, volume={25}, ISSN={["0743-7463"]}, DOI={10.1021/la901928j}, abstractNote={We report herein for the first time how a co-electrospinning technique can be used to overcome the issue of orienting cellulose nanocrystals within a neat cellulose matrix. A home-built co-electrospinning apparatus was fabricated that was comprised of a high-voltage power supply, two concentric capillary needles, and one screw-type pump syringe. Eucalyptus-derived cellulose was dissolved in N-methylmorpholine oxide (NMMO) at 120 degrees C and diluted with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) which was used in the external concentric capillary needle as the shell solution. A cellulose nanocrystal suspension obtained by the sulfuric acid hydrolysis of bleached sisal and cotton fibers was used as the core liquid in the internal concentric capillary needle. Three flow rate ratios between the shell and core, four flow rates for the shell dope solution, and four high voltages were tested. The resultant co-electrospun composite fibers were collected onto a grounded metal screen immersed in cold water. Micrometer and submicrometer cellulose fiber assemblies were obtained which were reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals and characterized by FESEM, FTIR, TGA, and XRD. Surprisingly, it was determined that the physical properties for the cellulose controls are superior to the composites; in addition, the crystallinity of the controls was slightly greater.}, number={22}, journal={LANGMUIR}, author={Esteves Magalhaes, Washington Luiz and Cao, Xiaodong and Lucia, Lucian A.}, year={2009}, month={Nov}, pages={13250–13257} }
 @article{dong_cao_li_2009, title={Functionalized Polypyrrole Film: Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Applications in Chemical and Biological Sensors}, volume={1}, ISSN={["1944-8244"]}, DOI={10.1021/am900267e}, abstractNote={In this paper, we report the synthesis of a carboxyl-functionalized polypyrrole derivative, a poly(pyrrole-N-propanoic acid) (PPPA) film, by electrochemical polymerization, and the investigation of its basic properties via traditional characterization techniques such as confocal-Raman, FTIR, SEM, AFM, UV-vis, fluorescence microscopy, and contact-angle measurements. The experimental data show that the as-prepared PPPA film exhibits a hydrophilic nanoporous structure, abundant -COOH functional groups in the polymer backbone, and high fluorescent emission under laser excitation. On the basis of these unique properties, further experiments were conducted to demonstrate three potential applications of the PPPA film in chemical and biological sensors: a permeable and permselective membrane, a membrane with specific recognition sites for biomolecule immobilization, and a fluorescent conjugated polymer for amplification of fluorescence quenching. Specifically, the permeability and permselectivity of ion species through the PPPA film are detected by means of rotating-disk-electrode voltammetry; the specific recognition sites on the film surface are confirmed with protein immobilization, and the amplification of fluorescence quenching is measured by the addition of a quenching agent with fluorescence microscopy. The results are in good agreement with our expectations.}, number={7}, journal={ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES}, author={Dong, Hua and Cao, Xiaodong and Li, Chang Ming}, year={2009}, month={Jul}, pages={1599–1606} }
 @article{cao_habibi_lucia_2009, title={One-pot polymerization, surface grafting, and processing of waterborne polyurethane-cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1364-5501"]}, DOI={10.1039/b910517d}, abstractNote={A series of new waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/cellulose nanocrystal (CN) composites have been successfully synthesized viain situpolymerization. The conditions were optimized to induce the grafting of part of the pre-synthesized WPU chains on the surface of cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) and the corresponding nanocomposites were processed by casting and evaporation. The morphology, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite films were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile tests. The success of the grafting was substantiated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Thus, it was demonstrated that the grafted WPU chains formed crystalline domains on the surface of CNs which expedited the crystallization of the polycaprolactone (PCL) soft segment domains in the WPU/CN nanocomposites. This co-crystallization phenomenon induced the formation of a co-continuous phase between the matrix and filler which significantly enhanced the interfacial adhesion and consequently contributed to an improvement in the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the nanocomposites. Although the ductility of the final nanocomposites was slightly reduced, in the CN content range from 0 to 10 wt-%, the Young's modulus and strength were significantly improved as shown by the change from 1.7 to 107.4 MPa and 4.4 to 9.7 MPa, respectively.}, number={38}, journal={JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY}, author={Cao, Xiaodong and Habibi, Youssef and Lucia, Lucian A.}, year={2009}, pages={7137–7145} }
 @article{cao_tao_lucia_zhang_2010, title={Preparation and Properties of Polyurethane/Benzyl Amylose Semi-Interpenetrating Networks}, volume={116}, ISSN={["1097-4628"]}, DOI={10.1002/app.31497}, abstractNote={AbstractA series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) films were prepared from 20 wt % of benzyl amylose (BA) of different Mw and castor oil‐based polyurethane (PU) in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). The weight‐average molecular weight (Mw), and radii of gyration (<S2>z1/2) of benzyl amylose were determined by laser scattering measurement, and the results suggested BA was in a compact coil conformation in DMF. Furthermore, the properties and miscibility of the polyurethane/benzyl amylose (PUBA) films were studied by scanning electronic microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer, and tensile testing. The PUBA films possessed much higher optical transmittance and tensile strength than the pure PU film regardless of the molecular weight of BA, but lower values of elongation at break were observed. With decreasing of the BA Mw from 9.24 × 105 to 2.69 × 105, interestingly, the elongation at break of the films increased from 135 to 326%. This might be ascribed to the decrease of crosslinking density of PU networks and the enhancement in freedom of the molecular motion. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE}, author={Cao, Xiaodong and Tao, Yongzhen and Lucia, Lucian A. and Zhang, Lina}, year={2010}, month={May}, pages={1299–1305} }
 @article{cao_dong_li_lucia_2009, title={The Enhanced Mechanical Properties of a Covalently Bound Chitosan-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite}, volume={113}, ISSN={["0021-8995"]}, DOI={10.1002/app.29984}, abstractNote={AbstractIn the present work, chitosan (CS)‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared via covalently bonded CS onto MWCNTs that had weight fractions of MWCNTs ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 wt % by a simple method of solution casting. The structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of the films were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, contact angle, and tensile testing. The results indicated that the CS chains were attached onto the MWCNTs successfully via covalent linkages. More interestingly, the MWCNTs provided a matrix that facilitated the crystallization of CS. Compared with the pure CS, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposites were enhanced significantly from 39.6 to 105.6 MPa and from 2.01 to 4.22 GPa with an increase in the MWCNT loading level from 0 to 3.0 wt %, respectively. The improvement in the tensile strength and modulus were ascribed to the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs covalently linked to the CS matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE}, author={Cao, Xiaodong and Dong, Hua and Li, Chang Ming and Lucia, Lucian A.}, year={2009}, month={Jul}, pages={466–472} }
 @article{dong_cao_2009, title={Nanoporous Gold Thin Film: Fabrication, Structure Evolution, and Electrocatalytic Activity}, volume={113}, ISSN={["1932-7455"]}, DOI={10.1021/jp8086607}, abstractNote={This paper demonstrates a new and simple approach to fabricate nanoporous structure on gold thin films (∼1.5 μm) via electrochemical alloying and dealloying reactions in ZnCl2/DMSO electrolyte. The relevant parameters affecting the formation of nanoporous structure in the alloying/dealloying process in organic electrolyte and the post-treatment in sulfuric acid solution are investigated in detail by simultaneous electrochemical and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) characterization. Herein, a new strategy for direct estimation of the end-point in the dealloying process is developed, assuring the success of preparing nanoporous gold (NPG) films with the highest purity and porosity. Our method is especially useful for fabrication of nanoporous structure on ultrathin Au films without any further deposition of Au. The as-prepared NPG thin films are then used as anodic catalysts for borohydride oxidation in the direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC), which show much higher catalytic activities i...}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C}, author={Dong, Hua and Cao, Xiaodong}, year={2009}, month={Jan}, pages={603–609} }